RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

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PHOTOS/VIDEO: Rafael Nadal supported Spanish Team in the final of EuroBasket 2015 in Lille.

It is fair to say Spain are not the home crowd favourites at EuroBasket 2015 - but one man in Lille who certainly is on their side is tennis superstar Rafael Nadal.

The 14-time grand slam champion travelled to Stade Pierre Mauroy fresh from his own national team triumph, having helped Spain defeat Denmark 5-0 in the Davis Cup's second-tier relegation playoff on Saturday.

When not on court, however, he has been keeping a close eye on events EuroBasket 2015, and hoped to see his team take their final step to claim a third European crown.

"I have been watching almost every game, especially the Spanish ones," Nadal said.

"For me it's a privilege to be here supporting my team and they are having an amazing tournament so I wish them all the best for the final."

Should Spain succeed, it would not be the first significant Spanish victory Nadal has witnessed.

He is a regular at the team's big games and is close with many members of an "unforgettable generation" of stars, particularly Pau Gasol.

But even Nadal has been impressed with what Gasol and his team-mates have achieved during this campaign - not least the NBA star's 40-point display against France in the semi-final.

Nadal added: "I have a great relationship with Pau and other players too, with Rudy [Fernandez], with Sergi [Sergio Rodriguez].

"They are a great group of people that have had an amazing 10 years of history in this sport - an unforgettable generation for our country.

"I have spoken to Pau a few times. He's happy, he's playing an amazing tournament, one of the best tournaments of his career without any doubt.

"The match he played against France was just unreal."

But what about their chances of avenging defeat in the 2003 final and beating Lithuania?